Parked at Rattlesnake Creek trail head, just south of Brian Head Peak road on highway 143. I put on the snowshoes and followed a snowmobile track north to Brian Head Peak road. I followed the road briefly and then left it to get on the south ridge. Snowshoes came off once I gained the ridge. The ridge was snowless due to wind and sun. Hiking was easy most of the way to the summit. It was FREEEZING on the summit. So windy... On the way down I skipped the ridge and snowshoed straight down the south facing slopes.

Was staying overnight in Panguitch on the way to the Grand Canyon for the weekend. Woke up early while family was still asleep and drove up to Brian Head. Beautiful celestial views at 5 am. No moon. I'll have to come back to this one during the day for the earthly views. 11th UT CoHP.

Half our group stopped a half mile into the road and attacked the peak as the crow flies. Unfortunately, my wife had some blisters so we walked the road up. The backcountry riding/skiing on that backside would be STELLAR in the winter.

I was on staff at Thunder Ridge scout camp in the early 80's. Since I lead hikes at a scout camp near the Tetons, they asked me to be trailmaster, and to find some good hikes for scouts. The main one I came up with was the hike from Thunder Ridge to Brian's Head. It was a good hike, but some scouts refused to return once they discovered a road at the top - "send our scout master in his truck".

Solo. My good sport wife accompanied me on the drive from SLC to a nearly snowless ski resort. After driving to the lower parking area about 1 mile below the summit, I drove back down the gravel road outlined by skiffs of lingering crystal snow so that I could at least get a 4-mile r/t hike out of the deal. In spite of the bright sunshine the wind was more indicative of the season. Next time I might wait until there is more snow and snowshoe from the base of the resort. #2 5-19-12 This time from the base of the resort on leftover snow. Crampons for upper 500'. Zero snow on top. Die Wanderung war fabelhaft aus bestimmtem Grund, von dem ich spaeter reden werde.